Ardie Savea will wear the captain's armband as the All Blacks bid to extend their Bledisloe Cup stranglehold into a 21st year.
The Wallabies host New Zealand at the MCG on Saturday hoping to bounce back after a disastrous start to life under new coach Eddie Jones, with back-to-back Rugby Championship losses to South Africa and Argentina.
As September's Rugby World Cup looms, Australia will look to step up against the All Blacks, who have retained the Bledisloe Cup since 2003.
Saturday's MCG clash will be the fifth time Savea has led the All Blacks.
He will feature in a loose forward trio which has undergone one change, with the withdrawal of regular skipper Sam Cane following a neck strain sustained this month in their Auckland win over South Africa.
Cane's absence opens the way for Dalton Papali’i to wear the No.7 jersey for the 14th time in his Test career.
Luke Jacobson comes into the match day 23 as loose forward cover.
Experienced campaigners Anton Lienert-Brown and Samuel Whitelock are set to make their first appearances of the season, Ofa Tu’ungafasi returns after playing the opening Test against Argentina and Cam Roigard is in line to make his Test debut as halfback cover.
“This trophy means so much to both countries and we expect a massive challenge on Saturday,” All Blacks head coach Ian Foster said.
This weekend will mark the first All Blacks Test at the MCG since 2007.
“As the final Rugby Championship Test, there is much at stake in this game,” Foster said.
“We have learned a lot from two stern Tests so far this year and there is huge excitement about playing Australia at this iconic ground.”
Game two of the 2023 Bledisloe Cup will take place in Dunedin on August 5.
New Zealand: Ethan de Groot, Codie Taylor, Tyrel Lomax, Brodie Retallick, Scott Barrett, Shannon Frizell, Dalton Papali’i, Ardie Savea (c), Aaron Smith, Richie Mo’unga, Mark Telea, Jordie Barrett, Rieko Ioane, Will Jordan, Beauden Barrett. Res: Samisoni Taukei’aho, Ofa Tu’ungafasi, Nepo Laulala, Samuel Whitelock, Luke Jacobson, Cam Roigard, Anton Lienert-Brown, Caleb Clarke.
